Catcher and theower game device



June 2, 1936. R. H. M CREA CATCHER AND THROWER GAME DEVICE Filed June '7, 1935 v INVENTOR koamr H. MCCREA Jum ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATEfi FATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

tion of a device as mentioned which is characterized by a funnel-shaped body having a portion closing the small end thereof upon which a ball may rest, and an opening in the side Wall of said body through which ones thumb or fingers may be inserted to press the ball against the opposite Wall of the body so that it may be released when desired and thrown from the device.

Still further the invention proposes an arrangement whereby the ball may be thrown in different ways, for instance, so as to spin in one or another direction.

As a further object of this invention it is contemplated to form the funnel-shaped body with a plurality of openings in the sides thereof through which ones finger may be engaged to press the ball against openings in the opposed Wall and thus retard one side of the ball as it is thrown to cause the spinning thereof.

Still further the invention proposes the introduction of protuberances or projections into the funnel-shaped body through the walls thereof, at will, so as to assist in controlling the type of thrown ball.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel-features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a catcher and thrower game device constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a still further modified form thereof.

The catcher and thrower game device, according to this invention, comprises a funnel shaped body Ill having a portion li'l closing the small end thereof upon which a ball, such as the tennis ball ll, may rest. The body H! is formed with an opening I2 in the side Wall thereof through which ones finger or thumb, indicated by the dot and dash lines I3, may be partially inserted to press the ball ll against the opposed wall of the body so that the ball may be released when desired and thrown from the device. The portion IE3 con- 5 tinues into a handle it by which the device may be conveniently gripped.

The device may be used to throw the ball I l in various styles, preferably, with the back overhand delivery with the thrower it is possible to throw the ball with much greater speed and in a more accurate direction than merely by hand. Various rules for the game may be promulgated. The device may also be used to catch the ball. For this reason the extremity of the funnelshaped body is quite large so that the ball, during flight, may be caused to engage therein by the proper positioning of the device. It requires skill to maintain the ball in position when caught, to prevent it from bouncing out. This adds to the fun of the game.

, In Fig. 3 a modified form of the device has been disclosed wherein, in addition to the side opening l2, there are several openings IZ I2*, and i2 arranged in opposed pairs around the base of 25 the funnel shaped body and of different diameters. With this arrangement the ball I i may be forced against any one of the various openings, and because of the difference in size thereof, partially engaging the ball with larger portions engaging from the funnel as larger holes are used. Thus, when the ball is thrown, one side will be retarded an amount depending upon the depth to which it is engaged into the opening, and so cause the ball to spin or rotate at different rates during flight.

In Fig. 4 another modified form of the invention has been disclosed which is substantially identical to the form illustrated in Fig. 1 but distinguishes therefrom in the provision of several small bodies or protuberances 24, normally disposed out of the path of motion of the ball within the body, and adapted to be placed partially within the path of motion when desired to control the type of ball thrown. More particularly, the bodies 24 are fixed upon leaf springs l5 attached at one of their ends upon the outer face of the wall of the body ID. The small bodies 24 are in line with small openings I6 through the wall of the body so that whenever desired, any one of the springs l may be flexed by finger pressure thereon to cause the small bodies 24 or protuberances to engage through the openings l6 and into the path of motion of the ball. In the latter condition, when the ball is thrown, one side of the ball will be retarded which will give the ball a spin in flight. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous form and corresponding parts may be recognized by the same reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A catcher and thrower game device, comprising a solid wall funnel-shaped body having a portion closing the small end thereof upon which a ball may rest, a. ball resting upon said portion, and said body being formed with an opening in the side wall thereof through which ones thumb or finger may be partially engaged to engage against the side of said ball and to press the ball against the opposed wall so that it may be released when desired and thrown from the device.

2. A catcher and thrower game device, comprising a funnel-shaped body having a portion closing the small end thereof upon which a ball may rest, and formed with an opening in the side wall thereof through which ones thmnb or finger may be partially engaged to press the ball against the opposed wall so that it may be released when desired and thrown from the device, said body being formed with small apertures and small bodies normally disposed outside of the wall of said body and movably mounted on the outer side of said body and adapted to be moved through said apertures in the wall at will to partially extend into the path of flight of the ball when thrown from the device.

3. A catcher and thrower game device, comprising a funnel-shaped body having a'portion closing the small end thereof upon which a ball may rest, and formed with an opening in the side wall thereof through which ones thumb or finger may be partially engaged to press the ball against the opposed wall so that it may be released when desired and thrown from the device, said body being formed with small apertures and small bodies normally disposed outside of the wall of said body and adapted to be moved through said apertures in the wall at will to partially extend into the path of flight of the ball when thrown from the device, said small bodies being mounted on leaf springs mounted upon the outer wall of said body.

ROBERT H. McCREA. 

